Aided by Strong Winds, Wildfires Burn Across the Inland Region

On Sunday, several wildfires raged across the inland region fueled by strong winds. They included the Jameson, Opera, and Rosa Fires in Riverside County, and the Tower Fire in San Bernardino County.

The Jameson wildfire was reported around 6:30 p.m. in the hills of Temescal Valley in Riverside County. It burned about 15 acres and set some palm trees ablaze in the 23200 block of Jameson Road.

The Opera Fire started at about 3:45 p.m. at the intersection of Opera Loop and East Palmyrita Avenue in the community of Highgrove. CAL FIRE/Riverside County firefighters responded to reports of a vegetation fire in a field near that location. When responders arrived on scene, the fire was approximately 30 acres in size, burning in light fuels and spreading rapidly toward radio towers on Box Springs Mountain.

At 6:45 p.m., there were reports of drones flying in the area, impeding the department’s ability to fight the fire. CAL FIRE reminded the community: “If you fly, we can't,” and asked that the drones be grounded immediately. It is illegal to fly drones near active wildfires.

By 9:50 p.m. Sunday, the fire had grown to approximately 1,350 acres and was 25 percent contained. In addition, approximately 40 homes were threatened by the fire. At least 150 fire fighters continued to battle the blaze.

By mid-morning Monday, the fire was 60 percent contained and no longer provided any threat to structures.

Another fire erupted Sunday in the unincorporated area of Temecula. Labeled the Rosa Fire, it started around 2:00 p.m. in avocado fields with an abundance of thick vegetation.

According to the Riverside County Fire Department, the fire burned about five acres and involved more than 100 firefighters. Fire officials reported air crews dumped retardant around the perimeter fire and it was fully contained by 6:30 p.m.

San Bernardino County had its own conflagration to deal with Sunday, when a wildfire burned along both sides of the 15 Freeway in Cajon Pass. Named the Tower Fire, San Bernardino County Fire Department officials reported that the blaze occurred at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday; by 7:30 p.m., it had slowed to a smolder. The Tower Fire was 20 percent contained by nightfall Sunday, and reached 50 percent containment by mid-morning Monday.